The long journey

In conjunction with World Humanitarian Day that falls on 19th August, students were asked to carry out an act of humanity to a stranger. This project was made voluntary for compassion cannot be forced, instead, it is nurtured.

Here is the story of one student who showed compassion to another:

“Who would have imagined that small things we do matter in other people’s life. I have been assigned to do a humane action towards strangers.

I crossed the deadline still not knowing what to do until I realised that my human nature led me to do something which seemed like nothing to me, but something to another person.

It was a cold Saturday evening when we got the news that my mother’s friend’s husband had passed away. We went to Putrajaya to stand by her side. The moment I reached, I saw a van that came to pick the corpse. He was to be laid to rest at his hometown, Malacca.

They moved the corpse into the van. Unfortunately, no one wanted to accompany his widow in the van.

In that moment, I remembered a Hadith:

الْمُسْلِمُ أَخُو الْمُسْلِمِ، لاَ يَظْلِمُهُ وَلاَ يُسْلِمُهُ، وَمَنْ كَانَ فِي حَاجَةِ أَخِيهِ كَانَ اللَّهُ فِي حَاجَتِهِ، وَمَنْ فَرَّجَ عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ كُرْبَةً فَرَّجَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرُبَاتِ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَمَنْ سَتَرَ مُسْلِمًا سَتَرَهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ‏‏‏

“The Muslim is the brother of his fellow Muslim; he does not wrong him or lwt him down. The one who meets the needs of his brother, Allah SWT will meet his needs. Whoever relieves a Muslim of distress, Allah SWT will relieve him of distress on the Day of Resurrection.” -Sahih Al Bukhari (2442).

I asked my mother if we could go with her, and my mother agreed. So my mother and I rode with her in the van to Malacca. I am glad that my small act of humanity put one heart at peace.

Sometimes, we may think that our actions mean nothing. But think again. For our action could mean the world to another.”

Muhammad Husayn bin Azizi, Year 10 Student of Abedeen Academy